Swiss cases against Asif Ali Zardari cannot be reopened, SC told

ISLAMABAD (PAK TIMES): The Supreme Court of Pakistan has been informed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday that the Swiss cases against Asif Ali Zardari cannot be reopened as the appeal of the Pakistani government was timed out.

The anti-corruption watchdog submitted its reply in the Supreme Court stating that the Swiss government has refused to reopen the cases as Pakistan’s appeal against the case was barred by time and their statutory limitation period has elapsed.

The two-page reply was submitted by the NAB in the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) case filed against former president Zardari. It said that NAB will act upon the directives of the apex court in the case.

The reply further added that that former Attorney General Malik Qayyum did not misuse authority and an inquiry against him was closed in September 2012.

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) stated that the Swiss officials have excused themselves from reopening the cases as they are now out of date. The anti-corruption watchdog also submitted details of corruption cases pending against the former president Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad and Lahore high courts.

The NAB further said that it had found no evidence of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) caused any financial loss to the national exchequer.

The Swiss cases created a rift between the judiciary and the executive as then Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani refused to write a letter to the Swiss authorities to reopen the case. He was eventually dismissed from office in a contempt of court case on April 26, 2012.